THE SELANGOR government wants to standardise the guidelines for future developments to be inclusive of the disabled community and adopt a universal design for all local authorities.
Selangor deputy secretary (development) Datuk Johary Anuar said that currently, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) had more advanced guidelines compared with other local authorities.
“The Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) has also implemented these guidelines.
"Currently, not all local authorities are implementing it.
“We will bring these guidelines to the state planning committee for it to be endorsed.
"This effort is to increase uniformity,” he said at a press conference for the "Kita Selangor: Universal Design" towards an inclusive state in Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya.
“After the engagement session to discuss the issues and solutions for the disabled, we will improve guidelines provided by MBPJ and implement them at all local authorities in Selangor,” Johary said.
State public health, unity, women empowerment and family committee chairman Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said the Selangor Action Council for the disabled (MTOS) had engaged with academics for awareness programmes.
“The World Health Organisation estimates 15% of the population are people with disabilities."
According to Dr Siti Mariah, when the public thinks of the disabled, they do not consider the aged who needed walking canes and wheelchairs to move around.
“By 2025, Selangor will become a 'super-age' state. Twenty percent of the citizens will be over 60 years old and we will face issues of accessibility if we are not prepared to make changes now that includes renovating and upgrading towards this purpose.
“Architects, engineers and building contractors must be well prepared.
"Contractors should abide by the guidelines and hopefully, it will be a norm in our future developments,” she said.
